Filed under: Becoming and Being Part of a UU Congregation, Children and Youth, UU Denomination and Pacific Central District News and Views | Tags: minister
Rev. Natalie Fenimore at Davies Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church.
What an amazing story! I am glad to know of this new colleague and about the congregation that called her unanimously to serve with them. Congrats!
Weekly Ministerial Message: The “Big Weekend” Edition!
Headlines:
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Meg Barnhouse: Concert Saturday 7 PM: Music, Stories & Laughter
Hunger Banquet dinner hosted by our Youth Group, Sunday, April 29
Shape Note Sing Sunday afternoon
Maypole/Beltane Ritual Sunday afternoon
Auction Item—seats still available at a member’s lunch table
Summer Camp early-bird registration ending—Chalice Camp!
Artist Reception Friday evening, May 4
Capital Campaign Feasibility Study—Sunday, May 6
Meet UUSS candidates for elected leadership Sunday, May 6
Operating Budget Proposal for 2012-13 to be explained May 6
Congregational Conversation workshop #3 Sunday, May 6
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Dear Members, Families, Friends, and Visitors,
Greetings! The rest of the staff and I are really excited about Meg Barnhouse’s concert this Saturday night at 7:00 at UUSS. Four of us are coming back early for it (from the UU Pacific Central District’s annual assembly in Oakland). Meg is a humorist, therapist, southern lesbian pastor (pretty humorous in itself!), spiritual writer and songwriter, and UU icon.
More about Saturday’s Concert
You may ask: Why come to Meg’s concert if you are coming to church the next morning? Sunday you’ll hear a great sermon. Saturday night you will hear many more songs and stories, and get to know Meg more intimately. Also, her partner and collaborator, Kiya, will be singing with her. If you are over 21, you’ll get a free glass of wine. (Other refreshments too.) Tickets are $10, available at the door at 6:30 PM. If you are under 21 and would like a free ticket, there are a few left. Write me ASAP!
Thanks to the committee that is making such good use of the restricted bequest of a late member, Prof. Betty Ch’maj, for this year’s Ch’maj Event (pronounced sh-MAY). That’s why tickets for this event are only $10!
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Sunday Services – April 29
Services at 9:30 and 10:15 AM. Religious Education at 9:30 AM
“Tales of the Tribe” is the sermon. Religious Education program: Sunday is a community garden day for Spirit Play (grades 1-5); Junior High Youth Group will help to make scare crows for our UUrthsong Garden. Dress for the garden! We ask for your newspaper donations by Friday at 2 for stuffing scarecrows!
Senior High Youth Group will plan for the April 29 Hunger Banquet. They will sell tickets after the first service, on the patio. Every Sunday our childcare staff is on duty from 9:00 to 1:00 PM, so folks with babies can attend either service. If you need sign language interpretation for a service, the Office needs 10 days’ notice for the later service (14 days for the 9:30 service) in order to let our interpreters know.
This is the last Sunday for April’s Shared Offering, which supports the UU Legislative Ministry (CA). Spring Connections Fair—stay after service to meet people from activity groups, committees and ministries who will be at tables on the meadow and patio. Find out what’s happening at UUSS.
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Hunger Banquet—Let’s support our UU teenagers as they host this important event: raising awareness of global inequities in food distribution. Bring a canned food donation and buy a $2 ticket. Thanks to the Senior High Youth Group, parents, volunteer advisors and staff for making this happen. This Sunday, April 29, 5:30-7:00 PM (The program may go till 7:30 but if you need to leave early for the Beltane ritual, that’s okay.)
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May Day/Beltane Ritual–CUUPS holds a Labyrinth Walk, potluck supper and May Pole Ceremony for Beltane this Sunday, April 29. Labyrinth 4 pm-5:30 pm, pot luck 6-pm-7pm, and May Pole ritual: 7 pm-9pm. In case of rain, ritual is inside. Free, but donations for defray UUSS overhead costs appreciated. Open to the public, including children. RSVP helpful. Laurie Jones or Diane Kelly-Abrams,
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Cost Updates on Summer Camp –We have several kids signed up for Chalice Camp! Don’t forget to register your incoming 1st – 6th graders for the all-day camp– at UUSS, August 6-10. We’ll have a fantastic time getting to know each other, playing games, preparing a play, creating art and playing with water. Attendees will also deepen their identities as UUs and be able to better articulate their faith. The cost for an additional child from same family is now only $100! Early bird $200 deadline extended to Sunday, May 6. Scholarships are available for financial need; check with Miranda or Rev. Roger to apply. Limit of 20 kids. Chalice Camp is open to Pledging Friend or Member families. Contact Rev. Roger to inquire. Register for the June 5 & 12 Orientation to Membership class at the Sunday Welcome Table. Child care is provided during the Orientation (by advance request when you register). To learn more or sign up, visit the Religious Education page on our website or contact camp director Mary Howard or registrar Carrie Cornwell, whose son looks forward to going. Others involved: Ginny Johnson, Miranda Massa, Roger Jones, and selected Senior High Youth as counselors! Don’t miss out!
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Exciting and Important UUSS Issues and our Future
Spring Connections Fair—this Sunday—after services, stay to meet some of the several activity groups, committees and ministries who will will be at tables on the meadow and patio. Stay after church to find out what’s happening. This is a great way to learn how to get connected here, find out ways you can put your gifts to use in service of UUSS or the local community. Hosted by Program Council and several committees and activity groups. Sunday, April 29, after the 9:30 and 11:15 AM services.
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Congregational Conversations—Sunday, May 6–
Lance Ryen and Judy Bell invite you to the last of 3 experiential workshops designed to expand and deepen the UUSS Conversation. The workshops have reflected our mission, vision, and covenant – who we are, how we deepen our lives, and how we can be a force for healing in the world. This third experiential workshop is entitled “Being a Force for Healing in the World.” You do not need to be a church member or to have attended the other workshops in order to benefit from this one. Please join us for this installment of an exciting adventure.
During June, July and August we will not be holding Congregational Conversations. But we plan an exciting program of Conversations starting in September – held the first Sunday of each month. We hope you will mark your calendars and join us. (Editor’s note: I heard great reviews from folks leaving an earlier Conversation!) Sunday, May 6, classroom 7/8 from 12:45 pm to 2:45 PM.
Capital Campaign Feasibility Study starts–and ends–next weekend!–The Capital Fund Campaign feasibility study will assess how much of the architectural Master Plan we can realistically fund complete in a first phase over the next couple of years. The first weekend in May we will survey everyone who comes to Sunday services.
Capital Fund Campaign consultant Bud Swank will lead a focus group with the board and program council. In addition, anyone who wants to speak with him about your feelings, thoughts and hopes for UUSS can sign up for a 30 minute individual or couple interview Saturday, Sunday, or Monday (May 5,6, & 7) Contact Carrie Cornwell, Mary Howard, or Ginger Enrico. [contact info left out of this blog for security. contact them through the Office if you do not have a UUSS Directory]
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Meet our Nominees for Leadership next Sunday—Our Nominating Committee is pleased to invite you to meet the volunteers who have accepted nomination to elected positions of leadership in the church. Come to a brief reception on the patio after the 9:30 service, Sunday May 6.
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Yet Another Pledge Campaign Update—many of you have mailed in a 2012-13 pledge form or brought it to a Sunday service. As of Sunday: 274 pledges totaling $418,310. Thank you so much!
Sorry to say, UUSS still has about 80 pledge forms outstanding, with about $89,000 of pledge commitments to fund all the goals and commitments to support our denomination, keep improving the security, look and cleanliness of our building and grounds, and be a UUA Fair Compensation employer.
Budget Forum–Our Treasurer will present and explain the proposed 2012-13 operating budget to you in a brief session after the first service next Sunday, May 6, in a classroom to be announced. The budget proposal is based on pledge commitments made now for the coming budget year. Read Cathy’s report on page 2 of the May Unigram.
Every pledge is valued and appreciated, and we thank you.
You may contact Michele to ask her to fill out a form for you or to mail one, or you may download one at this link. Or we can mail one to you.
If you can make a pledge, please do it today.
Every pledge makes a difference!
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Artist Reception–The next art reception will be Friday, May 4 from 5:30 to 7 pm in the Main Hall.
Photographers Donald Satterlee and Dianne Poinski share their beautiful work with us in this exhibit that focuses on subtle tonality and the luminosity found in nature. Don’s work evokes mystery and mood, Dianne hand colors her black and white images. All welcome!
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Chanteuses Concert—Our own Mary Howard, Barbara Lazar and guest artist Eric Stetson invite you to hear “Radio Hour,” the spring concert of this great women’s choral group. $15. Free up to age 16. Sunday, May 6, 4:00 PM at UUSS. Also: Friday, May 4, 7:30 PM, United Methodist Church, 9849 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks. See www.chaneeuses.org.
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Luncheon Opportunity–There are a few places left at the table for lunch on May 15 at the home or garden of Vivian and Larry. This auction item sold at the Harvest Fest for $18, and Vivian will welcome you for a similar donation to UUSS. [Pastor Cranky is unhappy that he cannot attend!]
The menu:
…Butternut squash soup
…sourdough French bread
…mixed green salad with walnuts & feta cheese
…Four-cheese baked shell pasta casserole [OMG!]
…Apple Pie a la mode and coffee or tea. [You’re killin’ me, Vivian!]
Send an e-mail to Vivian to book your place at the table.
Adult Enrichment Courses and Related Programs
UU Readers Book Discussion– May 29: Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. (1971 Pulitzer Prize; one of the best novels about California.) The last Tuesday of every month, 6:30 PM. Jim Glidden facilitates.
Beginning Tai Chi - for All Ages and All Abilities – Wear comfortable clothes, flexible shoes and your sense of humor. No pressure, just fun, movement and a chance to explore something new. You can practice standing or seated as needed. Donations help with UUSS overhead.
Yoga Classes — Paige invites you to try a first class for free. Sign up at Sunday Connection Central.
Complete contact information is not included on this blog. Please contact the Office by phone with questions or email me. Register on Sunday at church.
Chair Yoga — a gentle form of yoga, practiced sitting in a chair, or standing using a chair for support. Classes include eye exercises, breath exercises and meditation.
Easy Yoga – Pranayama (breath work) as well as Asana (posturing). Aside from benefits such as increased range of motion, strength, balance, and flexibility, Yoga also assists in stress release, developing attention skill, and cultivating an awareness for the moment. Both moving and still meditation are part of the process.
Women’s Group – Open to women of all ages, members, non-members, and visitors. You are invited to bring a poem, reading or just yourself to meet new friends and share in a discussion. Please contact Lynn [via the Office] to get a weekly notification of the meeting.
The Power of Now—Eckart Tolle discussion group starting soon. Introduction to the Mormon Religion—guest scholar June 3. Sign up for both at the Adult Enrichment bar at Sunday Connection Central.
“UU Living Legacy” Civil Rights Pilgrimage—discount registration ends May 15– The next UU Living Legacy Civil Rights Pilgrimage will be October 6-13, 2012. This unique bus trip is much more than a Civil Rights history tour through Alabama and Mississippi. We will be visiting historic sites and meeting veterans of the Civil Rights Movement, and but will also be spending time together and with guests exploring what racism, white privilege, and barriers to equality look like today in Southern towns we visit—and in our own hometowns. Beyond experiencing first-hand the civil rights legacy, our goal is to develop commitment, vision and mechanisms within our group to work on issues of race, injustice and inequality that still bedevil our congregations and our society. The Living Legacy Pilgrimage is hosted and organized by the Reverend Gordon Gibson and Judy Gibson; the Reverend Hope Johnson; the Reverend James Hobart; Janice Marie Johnson; Annette Marquis; and Donna Sequeira, and co-sponsored by the UUA’s Southeast District. For more information or to register, visit www.uulivinglegacy.org. Register early – costs are discounted for those who register before May 15. (Editor’s note: I took the first of these trips in 2000, and it was moving and inspiring. Good food, good lodging, new friends!)
In case you forgot…
Two days till we have Meg Barnhouse in concert! Wine, women and song! Saturday, April 28 at UUSS. Read more on page one of the April Unigram.
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Volunteer Opportunities—Easy Ways to Make a Difference
Coffee & Tea Making on Sunday—My first hug of the morning at church every Sunday goes to the coffee maker. (Not the Bunn-O-Matic, the person who is hosting for the day.) Fun and fulfilling! Contact Tom Lopes for info.
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Sound Board/Audio Monitoring at services—It’s easy once you know. Contact Eric if you have questions.
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Welcome Team Welcomes You to Welcome Others!—
Do you enjoy meeting new people?
Do you attend the 11:15 service? (Even just one of them a month?)
Consider joining the 2nd Service Welcome Team as a greeter one Sunday a month! Our mission is not difficult: you give a warm greeting to visitors and make them feel welcome here. If this sounds like a fun way to volunteer, please contact Sally Campbell, coordinator,for for more information.
(This is a really important ministry at UUSS. Everybody is new once!)
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All-Ages UUSS Church Camp– June 15-17 at Camp Norge in Alta, CA.
This is for families, singles, toddlers, elders and all the rest. At the Game Night I met with Fran and Anne to start planning. We and Ruth invite additional, new team members (adults or youth) to help plan and promote this great event. Let me know.
Thanks to each and every one of you for the ways that your presence makes this congregation a wonderful place to serve. See you Saturday at the concert or Sunday at church, the Hunger Banquet, Shape Note Singing, or May Pole celebrating.
To see my Pastor Cranky weblog, click: http://www.ironicschmoozer.wordpress.com.
In addition to more about Doug’s retirement announcement, our May 20 Congregational Meeting and our nominees for elected volunteer positions, you can find important information, much food for thought, and great color photographs in the brand new Unigram for May.
Yours in service,
Filed under: Becoming and Being Part of a UU Congregation, Special Events | Tags: a capella choral music, concert, UU church
The women’s choral group, Chanteuses, will be at UUSS on Sunday, May 6th at 4pm for their spring concert,” Radio Hour”. UUSS members Mary Howard and Barbara Lazar are members of the group, which will sing contemporary and traditional selections during the fun-filled, musically pleasing concert. Our own Eric Stetson is the guest artist, complete with ukelele! Local performer Martin Beal will be the MC. Tickets are $15 for everyone over 15 and can be purchased from Mary or Eric, as well as at the door. If May 4th doesn’t work for you, the concert is repeated Friday night, May 6th at the Fair Oaks United Methodist Church in Fair Oaks. Don’t miss this unique experience! Hope to see you there.
Filed under: Becoming and Being Part of a UU Congregation, Church Finances and Stewardship, Stewardship & Finances, Trends in Religion, UU Denomination and Pacific Central District News and Views | Tags: church administration, church culture, church mangement, congregational polity, senior minister, UU structures
Gossip travels faster than facts.
During the conversations on voting to call me as a settled minister at my church, a couple of members said they heard that I planned to give only 4 hours a week to my role as manager of office staff and general administration. They expressed skepticism that this was enough time. So do I!
I’m not sure where this came from–not from me. I don’t keep a time sheet for my 45-65 hours a week. Moreover, my work is not divisible into rigidly separate categories like ministry, business, finances, fund raising, scholarship, reflection, listening, training, coaching, writing, analyzing…. But I am quite busy and invested in the ministry of administration!
Since the unexpected departure of our former administrator in early June, I’ve been working several hours a week on matters that touch on administration, including staff recruitment, consultation, supervision and support. I came back early from a July vacation to help staff regroup and to lead the search for a temporary, 3/4 time consulting administrator.
Clergy colleagues was a Master of Divinity are prone to complain about the many things we find in our jobs that “they didn’t teach us in seminary.” Sure, but I also have an Master of Business Administration in finance and accounting, and there are plenty of things “they didn’t teach us in business school.” Ministry is one of the few non-specialist positions remaining. It’s generalist aspects are why this work appeals to me.
Over 16 years in ministry I’ve learned the most about management from patient coaching by folks from the corporate world, not-for-profit sector, and church leadership. In 10 years as a budget analyst, bond analyst, and social services administrator in the State of Illinois, I learned a lot from supervisors, colleagues, visionaries, vendors, and the consumers of our services.
Who and what are some of the people and places that you credit with giving you the skills and knowledge that have made you better at what you do? Comments below, please!
Filed under: Becoming and Being Part of a UU Congregation, Church Finances and Stewardship, Family Ministry, UU Denomination and Pacific Central District News and Views
In case you are not local, you may not have heard that the congregation met and voted last Sunday, April Fool’s Day, to call me as associate minister. The vote was 199 to 4 (98%, on paper ballots, and I didn’t vote). The quorum was more than our minimum and more than our usual: 53% of our members cast ballots. Board Secretary Meg said it was the largest turnout ever. She’s too young to remember very far back, but I’ll take it!
I’ve been here since 2008, hired on a yearly contract. Our lead minister has been urging me to think about this since I started year 2, and last spring I told him I was ready to move forward with a process. He brought it up to the Board in summer, and the Board appointed a task force. Several meetings, forums, a review of my experience, an interview with me, more forums later, and the board voted to recommend a congregational vote.
Usually the “hire to call” process is more intentional from the beginning, and usually the decision is made by the end of year 2. (Then they usually promote the “assistant” minister to “associate” minister. I have been “family minister,” which was already in the associate category with regard to compensation standards.)
This church and I have known each other nearly 4 years and we’ve come to the point where we know enough to turn this common-law marriage into a legal one. Many thanks! Other larger UU churches that are looking at the hire-to-call procedure have just hired some wonderful new young ministers, both of whom I know and love. Take a look by clicking the city name:
Charlotte, NC: Page 1 and 10 of the newsletter.
Appleton, WI: Click on the assistant minister link on their front page.
Filed under: Becoming and Being Part of a UU Congregation, Church Finances and Stewardship | Tags: chruch administration, communication, community, customer service, ministry, relationship building
Members of the congregation voted to call me as their settled associate minister on April Fool’s Day. Who was more foolish? Not sure yet! The board secretary said the 53% quorum of voters in person and by proxy was unprecedented. The vote (on paper ballots) was 98% in favor of the call (199 yes to 4 no, and I didn’t vote). I accepted this call, of course!
My role as manager of church staff and the main link to daily administration does not change by this vote. I’ve been doing that since last June. Thanks to the work of two 3/4 time consulting administrators, we have a new administrative structure. This is a pilot project, to see if we can provide better service, more staff coverage, and a culture of customer and member service with more specialized staff roles.
Here is the current breakdown of staff and supervision roles.
It’s easy to forget, as we’ve had a lot of changes in the past year.
I supervise the Religious Education Assistant (16 hours/week position), Bookkeeper (30 hours/week), and Congregational Support Coordinator (CSC, 30 hours/week). The CSC in turn supervises the Receptionist (full time) and our new Facilities Coordinator (FC, 20 hours/week). Since late July we’ve been well served by a 3/4 time business administrator consultant; the current one will depart soon, with our deep thanks. We also draw on the services of an IT consultant, one of the best values in that field.
The FC supervises three custodians and a maintenance technician. The Lead Minister, along with relationships with lay officers, worship leaders, capital campaign and long range plan leaders, supervises the music staff, a membership consultant and me.
In a later post I will talk about the division of my time here–and the non-divisibility of my time.
I will try to answer the question:
How much of my time at work is “ministry” and how much is “administration”?
(It’s all ministry!)
Filed under: Becoming and Being Part of a UU Congregation, Children and Youth, Church Finances and Stewardship
Stewardship Pledge Campaign Update—many more folks have mailed in their 2012-13 pledge forms or brought them to Sunday service. As of today UUSS has received 240 pledges totaling $394,400. Thank you so much!
Our Bookkeeper says we still have about 120 outstanding. And the red “thermometer” shows we have over $100,000 to go to fully fund all the goals and commitments we’d like to. Every pledge makes a difference!
You may pick up a yellow form this Sunday to make a pledge, contact Michele Ebler to ask her to fill out a form for you or mail one, or you may download one at this link.
Every pledge received in the next few days will enable our Treasurer to present a more accurate and optimistic budget to the Executive Committee of the Board. Every pledge is valued and appreciated, and we thank you. Thank you for your support.
Easter! Easter! What’s all this I hear about Easter?
On April 8, Religious Education takes place during the 9:30 AM service. Doug will be preaching, the Starr Singers singing, and both Youth Groups hiding Easter eggs (for Room 11 kids) and canned goods (for Spirit Play kids) to find and turn in for treats.
To prepare for the annual canned food Easter hunt, Religious Education Committee and Senior High Youth Group are now accepting canned food donations. Your canned food donations can be dropped off at the Religious Education table on your way into this Sunday’s service. Thank you!
Games Night—Friday, April 20—Folks of all ages gather again for a potluck supper and board games. Families, singles, couples, from toddlers to elders. Show up at 5:30, we eat at 6 PM. Play till 8 PM.
Summer Camp for UUs in Grade School– Children headed into first through fifth grades are invited to spend the week of August 6 – 10 at UUSS’s summer day camp with camp director Mary Howard and camp counselors from our senior high youth group. A child’s week at Chalice Camp will include art, drama, water play, games, and more fun. It will deepen each child’s understanding and expression of Unitarian Universalism. To learn more or sign your child up, visit the Religious Education page on the UUSS website or contact camp director Mary Howard or camp registrar Carrie Cornwell .
